DeRosa, Bergliot (Bella) Moxness Oliver

Bergliot DeRosa was born on August 11, 1902 in Trondheim, Norway to Olav Johannes Moxness and Sara Petrine Kristensen. Olav was a sea captain of the English Freighter and spent a great deal of time away from the family. In 1918, en route to Australia, the boat he was on disappeared and was never heard of again. In addition to Bergliot, there were five other children in the Moxness family: Gunvor, Ruth, Johan, Sara, and Olav. Bergliot had a very active childhood, which including a lot of skiing and hiking. She was confirmed in the Cathedral in Trondheim and was then sent to Humerskole for four years to learn how to bake, cook, and care for children. In 1914, Bergliot's sister Gunvor immigrated to Tacoma, Washington, and Bergliot joined her in 1922. Eventually, the entire family came.

When Bergliot arrived in Tacoma, she already had a housekeeping job, which paid $50 a month. Following that job, Bergliot worked for Everybody's Candy Factory and then as a housekeeper for Dr. Whitaker. In addition to work, Bergliot also went to school to become a citizen and learn the English language, which did not take her very long.

Bergliot met her first husband, Fremont Oliver, at Point Defiance. Fremont owned the Oliver Tire Company in Tacoma, and he and Bergliot were married at a local Lutheran Church. They had three children: Ruth (Jones), Rosemary (Duncan), and Fremont. After being sick for two years, Fremont Sr. died in 1946. Bergliot was later remarried to Frank DeRosa, the supervisor for the Tacoma Water Department. Bergliot continued working, cooking in the kitchen at Pacific Lutheran University for one year and then caring for Mrs. Hawkins, the bedridden wife of an attorney at the Country Club. Bergliot was very active in the Daughters of Norway, serving as a Marshall for many years, and was also active in the 17th of May celebration and Leif Erikson committee.

She is still fluent in Norwegian and has given many lectures on Norway to various groups. Bergliot has returned to Norway twice, once shortly after Fremont died and once in 1969. In Bergliot's opinion, so much has changed in Norway that it no longer feels like her home. Nevertheless, she claims she is "just as much Norwegian as when she left Norway."

Lineage

Full Name: Bergliot Moxness Oliver DeRosa. Maiden Name: Bergliot Moxness. Father: Olav Johannes Moxness. Mother: Sara Petrine Kristensen. Paternal Grandfather: Johan Wedege Pettersen Moxness. Paternal Grandmother: Olive Røskaft. Maternal Grandfather: Nils Kristensen. Maternal Grandmother: Gunhild Wiklun Kristensen. Brothers and Sisters: Gunvor Moxness, Bronow Ruth Moxness, Johan W. Moxness, Sara Moxness Vanderbilt, Olav Moxness. Spouse: Fremont Oliver, Frank DeRosa. Children: Ruth Nadin Jones, Rosemary Duncan, Fremont Ashley Oliver

From the guide to the DeRosa (Bergliot Moxness Oliver) Oral History Interview, 1981, (Robert A.L. Mortvedt Library Scandinavian Immigrant Experience Collection Archives and Special Collections Department)